Relay.



PATBNTED SEPT. 12, 1905.

W. W. COLEMAN.

RELAY.

APPLIGATIQN FILED nlm, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

Ku. om M m 1 m 2, l s T T m P H E s S 3 D E mi N E T A D.. M 9 1 N.. 7, A m. M A E Y D Tu A E 0 L C L H E l R N V J W m mw A n z a\ M W x, 2 4 R 9m 5 4.., 9 9 7 nu N @Mm/wom: /f Q www ff; nf. Jima/K No. 799,452. PATENTED SEPT. 12, 1905.

' W. W. COLEMAN.

RELAY.

APPLICATION FILED APIL?, 1905.

3 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

UNITED- STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM W. (JOLEMAN, OF EDGEW OOD PARK, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO THE UNION SWITCH AND SIGNAL COMPANY, OF SWISSVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

RELAY.

Patented Sept. l2, 1905.

Application filed April 7, 1905. Serial No. 254,319.

To n/ZZ whom t may 00720671771:

Be it known that INVILLIAM W'. COLEMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Edgewood Park, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Relays, of which the following is a speciiication.

My invention relates to relays, and more particularly to what is known in the railway- IO signaling art as interlocking relays.

An interlocking relay generally comprises two sets of magnets, each set being provided with an armature, the movement of which is used to openand close electrical circuits, and

I5 an interlocking means which acts when one armature is away from its set of magnets to prevent movement of the other armature.

My invention has special reference to the interlocking means.

2O I will describe an interlocking relay embodying my invention and an application for signaling purposes and theii point out the novel features thereof in claims.

In the accompanyingdrawings, Figure l is Z5 an elevation of an interlocking relay embodying my invention and showing it applied to a railway to operate aerossing signal-bell. Fig. Q is a horizontal section of the interlocking relay, taken approximately on the line rn :c of

Fig. I and looking upwardly in the direction of the arrows. Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. l, part of the casing being broken away. Fig. I is a detail view, to be referred to, showing the interlocking means in the position it will assume when the magnets to the left are denergized, due to the presence of a train in the section with which said magnets are in circuit. This view also shows the proper contacts made to close the bell-circuit for that LO section and the armature to the right in locked position. Figs. 5 and 6 are modiiied detail views, to be referred to, showing the position of the parts when the magnets to right are dcenergized, due to the presence of a train in that section and going in an opposite direction. In this view the .contacts are properly made to close the bell-circuit for that section and the armature to the left is shown as locked. Figs. 7 and 8 are diagrammatical views, the

former view showing two sections of a railway-track having an interlocking relay embodying my invention connected therewith, a train being shown in the section to the left and the bell-circuit therein closed to sound an alarm, and the latter View showing' the train 55 as having entered the section to the right of the crossing.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings. 6o

R designates an interlocking relay embodying my invention, which, as previously mentioned, generally comprises two sets of magnets, as also various binding-posts and other parts common to such class of instruments and so well known to those skilled in the art as not to need any lengthy or specific description. The magnets are arranged in pairs and are designated, respectively, 7' and 7", being secured to a suitable table or plate l, which corresponds in point of contour with a base-plate 2, both of which are separated from each other to form a convenient box or compartment 3 for the various operating and other partsby means of the transparent plates 4, preferably glass, the ends of which are usually retained in keepers 5, while the upper and lower edges thereof bear against the contiguous faces of the table or plate l and the base-plate 2, the whole being secured together 8O by suitable screw-bolts 6.

The cores of the respective magnets f7.' and fr project through the table or plate l, and the upper extremities of each pair are bridged by the usual pole-pieces 7 and 8, respec- 85 tively, their lower extremities being preferably provided each with an enlarged polepiece 7 and 8, which constitute the N and S poles of the magnets and which under the influence of current in said magnets serve to 9o give a strong pull to the armatures 9 and I0, pivotally supported by and located in proper relation with said pole-pieces 7 and 8, as shown. Each of the armatures has secured to it in any suitable manner an arm l1 IQ and 95 the outer free ends thereof, which are arranged to extend downwardly and toward each other and which are preferably provided with shoulders IIll and 1T, respectively, are engaged and locked by an interlocking means 13 when the latter is moved to one side or the other, due to the change of position of the respective armatures, as I shall presently describe.

The interlocking means is conveniently located with relation to the armatures and, as

IOS

shown in Figs. 1 to inclusive, may take the vform of a swinging member 13, movably mounted upon a pivot 14 and adapted to engage the depending' arms 11 and 12, so that upon the release ot' one armature by one set of magnets said interlocking means will be moved to engage and lock the armature of the other pair of magnets, or, as shown in Fig. 6, the interlocking means may comprise a rigid mem ber 13, arranged in the path ot' movement of the depending arms 11 and 12 and so disposed relatively therewith as to also lock and prevent the movement oitl one armature while 5 the other armature is in unlocked or released position. l will describe each of these interlocking means separately, premising that their operation is essentially alike in each instance.

In Figs. 1 to 4, inclusive, the interlocking means takes the form of a bell-crank or escapement lever 13, pivotally supported in a fixed bearing 15, and is normally held so that its respective arms will lie in a horizontal or approximately horizontal position, as shown in Fig. 1, withv its terminals resting one on each of the bent arms 11 and 12, which, as previously mentioned, are secured to the armatures 9 and 10. Now thev position of the armatures with respect to their coacting magnets is such that th eyare free to move slightly away from their poles without closing the bell-circuits, as I shall presently describe, either while under or not Linder the infi'uence of electric current. When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. L1, the magnets to the left are deenergized, and their armature 9 in falling away will lift the free end ot' the bent arm 11, thereby moving that arm of the bell-crank or escapement lever 13 which rests upon it, so as to bring its opposite arm beyond a shoulder 12 on the opposite bent arm 12; but under conditions where the other set ot' magnets to the right are denergized simultaneously therewith or immediately after the armature 1() in falling away therefrom will engage the other arm of the interlocking means, thereby limiting its movement, and so preventing the closing of the circuit. The weight of the armature will serve to maintain the interlocking' means in this position, and the shoulder 11u or 12, as the case may be, will prevent disturbance of the interlocking means until such time as the magnets 2" are again energized and the armature 10 attracted to the core thereof, which will effect the lifting of its weight from the interlocking means, and thus permit it to assume its initial position, as shown in Figs. 1 and 8. Gravity alone may sulice to bring the interlocking means back into such position; but I prefer to employ means for positively accomplishing this return movement. This means may, as shown, comprise a spring 16, one end of which is connected with the bell-crank or escapement lever 13, the other end being secured to the plate or table 1. Thus when the parts are as shown in Fig. 4 a tension will be exerted on the spring 16 sufficiently to bring the bell-crank or escapement lever 13 back to its initial position immediately at'tcr it has been released from the weight of the armature 9 or 1() of that particular arm 11 or 12 with which it may .at the time be engaged. 17 and 18 designate, respectively, two sets ot' contact-bars supported by and properlyinsulated from the armatures 9 and 10 and adapted to move therewith. These bars are preferably arranged one on each side ot' each of the bent arms 11 and 12 and are provided at their inner extremities with contact fingers or plates 17u 17" and 18 18h, adapted to engage appropriate front and back contacts in the ordinary manner, and so make and break certain circuits during the presence in or absence ot current from the Arespective magnets 7 fr'. The opposite ends of these contact-bars are preferably provided with flexible or yielding strips or conductors 19 20, which connect with binding-posts 21 22, which in turn may connect with an appropriate crossing signal-bell B or other part or appliance, through the medium ot' wires 23 24e, in the usual manner. The front contacts (herein designated by the numerals 25 26) extend upwardly through the table or platel and terminate in binding-posts 27 28, the latter being connected to each other by wires 29 30, and which in turn are connected to a wire 31, leading to one pole ot' a battery B', employed for supplying current to the alarm or signal bell B or other part or appliance to be operated. To the opposite pole of the battery B is connected a wire 33, which completes the circuit Jfor the alarm or other part or appliance to be operated.

ln Fig. 5 the interlocking means 13 is shown as comprising a pivotal member having its lower extremity provided with teeth t t, located one at each side oi a reduced extension 2 and adapted to alternately enter depressions provided in the ends ot' the bent arms 11 and 12. When this construction of my invention is applied to railway-signals and the parts are in the position shown, a train may be presumed to be within the track-section to the right, and the magnets fr for that section are consequently denergized. The coacting armature 10 will thereupon fall, lifting the free end of the bent arm 12 into contact with the outer edge ot' the tooth t', moving the locking member 13 to the left, so as to bring its tooth t into register with the depression in the bent arm 11 at the opposite side or' the extension t2, where they will engage each other, and so lock the armature 9 against falling when its coacting magnets are denergized by the presence of a train in the section with which they are in circuit. The train on leaving the section to the right causes the battery X to energize the magnets in that section, thereby attracting the armature 10 and caus- IOO ITO

ing the bent arm 12 to assume the position shown in dotted lines. When now the train has passed into the section to the left, the magnets in that section, of course, will be deenergized; but their armature, as lirst described, is prevented from falling and closing the circuit for the bell or other part or appliance. rI he train having passed out of this section and into the neXt succeeding one, leaves a battery X, which is included in a track-circuit for the block-section to the left, free to energize lthe magnets fr, with which it is in circuit, thus attracting' the armature 9 and lowering the end of the bent arm 11 sufficiently to bring the depression therein away from the tooth t, and thus permitting the locking member 13 to swing to the perpendicular position, ready to be moved to one side or the other, due to the energizing or deenergizing of the respective magnets fr fr', as the case may be.

In Fig. 6, which illustrates a slightly-modified form of my invention, the interlocking means is shown as comprising a stationary member 13, secured to the table or plate 1 and against which the lower extremities of the bent arms 11 and 12 will alternately strike when the respective magnets are denergized, as previously described. In this construction the lower end of the interlocking means is provided with a threaded socket to receive the threaded end of a rod or pintle 13", by 'which means it will be apparent that accurate adjustment may be given to suit the movement of the respective armatures. A binding-nut 13C may be provided, as shown, for locking the rod or pintle 13b after proper adjustment thereof. In the operation of this form of interlocking means the same results as those previously described are effectednamely, the movement of one armature, owing to the deenergization ot' its magnets, serves to prevent the operation of the opposing armature even though its magnets may also be denergized. When this construction of my invention is applied to a railway-signal, the bent arm 11 will contact with the end ot' the rod or pintle 13 of the interlocking means, due to the presence ot' a train in vthe track-section Vwith which its magnets are in circuit, and the opposing arm 12 is held away from contact therewith owing to the armature 10 being attracted by its magnets. The ends of these arms 11 and 12 are preferably provided with hooks 11 and 12, respectively, so that when a train passes from one section into the other and while yet a portion of such train is in both sections it will be apparent that both magnets will be deenergized, thus lifting the arm 12 until its hook will interlock with or pass under the hooked end of the opposing arm 11, in which position they will remain until the train has cleared both track-sections. The movement of one arm is limited by contacting with the end of the other or opposing' arm, so that the contacts (not shown) in moving therewith will not engage the poles in the circuit, thus preventing' the closing thereof. In this form ot' my invention when the magnets are again energized and their respective armatures attracted the interlocking ends of the bent arms 11 and 12 will be released, whereupon they will assume their normal position-rl e., the terminals'V of both arms will lie in a practically horizontally plane and assume the position of the arm 12 to the right.

Suitable track-batteries X X, respectively, are of course provided as a source ot' currentsupply for each track-circuit, and the wires 34 35 lead from the track-section to the left to the windings of the magnets 7', while similar wires 36 37 lead from the track-section to the right to the windings of the magnets r.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An interlocking relay, comprising' electromagnets and coacting armatures, and an interlocking means operable upon the movement of the armature of one of the electromagnets to lock the armature of the other electromagnet.

2. An interlockingI relay, comprising two sets of electromagnets and coacting armatures, and an interlocking means operable upon the movement of the armature of one set of the electromagnets to' lock the armature of the other set of electromagnets.

3. An interlocking relay, comprising two sets of electromagnets and coacting armatures having extensions thereon, and an interlocking means operable upon the movement ol' the armature of one set of magnets to engage the extension on and lock the armature ot' the other set of electromagnets.

LI. An interlocking relay, comprising electromagnets and coacting armatures, interlocking means operable upon the movement ot' one armature to effect the locking of the other armature, and means for returning said interlocking means to its normal or initial position.

5. An interlocking relay, comprising electromagnets and coactingI armatures, and an interlocking means coacting with and disposed in the path of movement of said armatures whereby upon the operation of one armature said interlocking means effects the locking of the other armature.

6. An interlocking relay for controlling the operation of railway-signals comprising electroniagnets and coacting armatures, and an interlocking means comprising a member arranged in the path of movement of said armatures and adapted to lock one of said armatures coincidentally with the release of the other due to the presence in or absence of current from the respective magnets.

7. rIhe combination with a railway-signal of the character described, comprising a de- IOC vice for giving an alarm or Warning on the approach of a train toward a grade or other crossing, of an interlocking' relay, comprising electromagnets and coacting armatures in circuit with said signal device and with the track-sections, a source of current-supply therefor, and an interlocking means operable upon the movement of the armature of one of the electromagnets to lock the armature of the other electromagnet.

8. 'The combination with a railway-signal of the character just described, comprising an electrical device for giving' an alarm or warning on the approach of a train toward a grade or other crossing, in either direction, asource of current-supply therefor, of an interlocking relay, comprising electromagnets and coacting armatures in circuit with said signal device and with the track-sections, a source of current-supply therefor, and an interlocking means operable upon the movement of the armature of one of the electromagnets to lock the armature of the other electromagnet.

9. rl`he combination with a railway-signal of the character described, comprising a device fer giving an alarm or warning' on the approach of a train toward a grade or other crossing, a source of electric-current supply therefor, of au interlocking relay, comprising two sets of electromagnets and coacting armatures in circuit with said signal device and with the track-sections insulated from each other and located ateitherv side of the crossing, a source of current-supply therefor, and an interlocking' means operable upon the movement of the armature of one set of magnets to engage the extension en and lock the armature of the other set of electromagnets.

10. The combination with a railway-signal of the characterdescribed, comprising an electrical device for giving an alarm-Warning on the approach of a train toward a grade or other crossing, a source of current-supply therefor, of an interlocking relay, comprising electromagnets and coacting armatures in circuit With said signal device and with tracksections insulated from each other and located at opposite sides of the crossing, interlocking means operable upon the movement of one armature to effect the locking of the other armature, and means for returning said interlocking means toits normal or initial position.

11. r1`he combination with a railway-signal `of the character described,comprising a signalbell adapted to give warning on the approach of a train toward a grade or other crossing, in

either direction, a source of current-supply therefor, and an interlocking` relay comprising electromagnets and coacting armatures in circuit with said signal-bell and with tracksections insulated from cach other and located at opposite sides of the crossing, and an interlocking means coacting with and disposed in the path of movement of said armatures whereby upon the operation of one armature said interlocking means effects the locking of the other armature.

12. An interlocking relay comprising two sets of electromagnets and coacting armatures,

a pivotal member adapted to normally engage said armatures during the presence of current in the magnets and adapted to move upon the denergization of one set of magnets and lock the armature of the other set of magnets.

13. An interlocking relay comprising two sets of electromagnets and coacting armatures, a pivotal member adapted to normally engage said armatures during the presence of current in the magnets and adapted to move upon the deenergization of one set of magnets and lock the armature of the other set of magnets, and a spring engaging said pivotal member for returning it to its initial position.

1-1. An interlocking relay comprising t\vo sets of electromagnets and coacting armatures, the latter havingextensions thereon and being provided with shoulders or catches at their terminals, a locking member arranged in the path of movement of said armatures and adapted to alternately engage the shoulders or catches on the extensions and lock the respective armatures during the absence of current in the respective magnets.

15. An interlocking relay comprising two sets of electromagnets and coacting armatures, the latter having extensions thereon and being provided with shoulders or catches at their terminals, a bell-crank or escapement lever, the terminals of which are adapted to normally rest upon the extensions on the respective armatures and being operable upon the de'energizing of one set of magnets to lock the armature of the other set of magnets, and a spring' engaging' said bell-crank or escapement lever for returning it to its normal or initial position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this speciication in the presence of two subscribing Witnesses.

WILLIAM XV. COLEMAN. lVitnesses:

MARQUIS D. HANLON, Asuur G. VILsoN.

IOO 

